Elimination of poverty, illiteracy govt's top priority: CM

LAHORE - Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has said that eradication of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and provision of speedy justice to the people is the agenda of PML-N government and all out efforts are being utilised to achieve this agenda. He expressed these views while talking to assembly members belonging to various districts at Chief Ministers Secretariat on Monday. He said practical steps taken by Punjab government for the rapid development of the province and uplift of masses had yielded positive results. The chief minister said a comprehensive strategy had been adopted for the promotion of economic activities, prosperity and provision of basic amenities to the masses. He said strict financial discipline had been adopted for curtailing non-developmental expenditure and the funds thus generated were being spent on the welfare of the people. He said special attention was being paid to generating additional resources for development projects. Shahbaz said special attention was being paid to the development of backward and far-flung areas of the province and development schemes were being completed on priority basis for providing basic facilities to the people of these areas. The CM said setting up IT labs in more than 4,000 schools of the province, establishment of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund and encouragement of outstanding students and teachers would help in raising literacy rate and bringing a revolution in education sector. He said the measures taken by the government for the improvement in health, agriculture and other sectors were also yielding positive results. Shahbaz stressed upon assembly members to play their due role for resolving peoples problems and ensuring timely and quality completion of ongoing development projects. Assembly members apprised the chief minister of the ongoing development schemes and problems of their respective areas. Those who met the chief minister included Ms Iffat Liaqat Ali Khan, Karam Dad Wahla, Haji Muhammad Naeem Safdar Ansari and Ch Irfan Bashir Gujjar. Meanwhile, the chief minister had strongly condemned the bomb blasts in the rally of ANP in Taimergarah and near American Consulate in Peshawar. He expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives and also prayed for the early recovery of the injured.